An ECU medical anthropologist and public health professor has written a new book that examines body image and African Americans.

Bailey

Eric J. Bailey’s new book, “Black America, Body Beautiful: How the African American Image is Changing Fashion, Fitness and Other Industries” (Praeger Publishers, 2008), was published in late July. He held his first of four book signings in North Carolina Aug. 21 at Greenville’s Barnes & Noble Booksellers.

In eight chapters, Bailey offers a range of personal observations, case studies, assessments, timelines and online discussions that detail the rising influence of black body types in mainstream media and other industries.

“The book is about a people’s struggle in finding their particular preference for body image and recognizing their body images, body types and standard of beauty are greatly influencing today’s fashion, advertising, fitness, television, movie and political industries,” Bailey said.